The ICWA Expert Witness New Mexico May 2012 Presenting Quality Evidence To Protect the Best Interests of Indian Children By Margaret A. Burt, Esq. Copyright.

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "The ICWA Expert Witness New Mexico May 2012 Presenting Quality Evidence To Protect the Best Interests of Indian Children By Margaret A. Burt, Esq. Copyright."— Presentation transcript:

1
The ICWA Expert Witness New Mexico May 2012 Presenting Quality Evidence To Protect the Best Interests of Indian Children By Margaret A. Burt, Esq. Copyright 2012

2
When are ICWA experts used? 25 U.S.C. §1912 (e) n ICWA child -- Removal from Home n ICWA child – TPRs n Also used to assist: n placement priority decisions n May be the liaison to advise agency and Tribe and court

3
When in the procedure for the removal does the expert testify? n Some states do it at the emergency/removal/shelter care hearing n New Mexico decision: Esther V., State of New Mexico CYFD v Marlene C. Findings of §1912(d) and (e) to be at the adjudicatory hearing

5
The “gold standard” n Member of Indian child’s tribe who is recognized by tribal community as knowledgeable in tribal customs as they pertain to family organizations and childrearing practices

6
OR: “silver standard” n A lay expert witness having substantial experience in the delivery of child and family services to Indians, AND extensive knowledge of prevailing social and cultural standards and child rearing practices within the Indian child’s tribe

7
Or: “Use at your own risk” n A professional person having substantial education and experience in the area of his or her specialty n Some states have removed this category or modified it in state statute

8
Any interesting caselaw? n In Re Custody of S.E.G., 507 N.W.2d 872 (Minn, Ct. App. 1993) and State ex rel. Juvenile Dept. v Charles 688 P.2d 1354 (Or. Ct. of App. 1984)– ed. qualifications not as important as knowledge of tribal customs and traditions n In Interest of M.H. 691 N.W. 2d 622 (S.D. 2005) - atty who worked with 2 other tribes but did not know child’s tribe

11
If case is being settled, does QEW still have to testify? Different with removal or TPR? Could the agency caseworker ever be the QEW, say if they have worked with Indian families or is this a built in bias?

12
What if there is no real “cultural bias” in the removal/grounds for TPR – can the court excuse this testimony, or use an expert who is not particularly knowledgeable of tribal culture and child rearing? Maybe a dozen or so reported cases from Arizona, Alaska, Oklahoma, Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, North Dakota, Kentucky - many were TPRs on mental illness type grounds

13
Is the QEW more than a witness? n Add a “nonagency” prespective re active services and safety n Provide all parties with the tribe’s position on the matter n Caselaw says it should be a person who really does provide court with better understanding of tribe’s family and childrearing traditions

14
Could there be more than one expert in a case? Judge should rule who is the expert and the burden is on the agency – assume they could offer more than one Seems like anyone else could offer an expert from their POV

15
What does the expert actually testify about? n Removal of an Indian child from his or her family must be based on competent testimony from one or more experts qualified to speak specifically to the issue of whether continued custody by the parents or Indian custodians is likely to result in serious physical or emotional damage to the child

16
Why do you need an “expert” on Indian issues to prove likely damage to a child? n The party who is seeking to have the child removed or parental rights terminated must prove to the court that active efforts, in the context of the prevailing social and cultural conditions and way of life of the Indian tribe, have been made and that available family and tribal services and been used and that the risk is still present

17
So what kind of things would an expert need to know about? n the tribe’s history n how children are viewed by the tribe n child rearing in the tribe n use of discipline n cultural expectations n tribe’s services n family’s history n protective issues in family n particular incidents n this child’s needs n agency responses n tribe and family view of situation

18
Experts need to : n Demonstrate expertise and credentials n Give examples of how they know about the child’s tribe n What does Judge need to know about the tribe and about the case? n Give clear examples of what specifically is “likely” if child remains in home n Take the time needed to review the case

19
Also: n Expert should talk to attorney in advance and of course be honest re that n Expert should talk to the “other side” n Should not read from notes but bring them n Report might be helpful, worth considering but, do not assume the report has been read but don’t assume it hasn’t n Expert should not be “expert of all things” – know limits

20
Good expert should prepare by: n Reviewing all the records n Talk to all the relevant people n Consider how the cultural knowledge that expert has may be relevant to the issues in the case n WHAT serious physical or emotional damage does CYFD think is likely – does expert agree or disagree and why?

21
CYFD attorney: n NEED to work with expert before calling them to the stand n Attorney should make clear what they think they need but allow expert to form own opinion n Use expert to EDUCATE you n Know experts relevant credentials n Other cases involved in n Understand what expert can/cannot say

22
CYFD attorney n Any literature or props that expert could use that would be helpful? n Who has expert talked to - not talked to? n Does expert have notes or a file? Should there be a written report?

24
THE opinion question: Do you have an opinion within a reasonable degree of certainty as to whether continued custody by the child’s parents would likely result in serious physical or emotional damage?

25
In Court: n How are experts “qualified”? Stipulation vs Foundational Questions n Use of a CV n “Voir Dire” of expert’s qualifications n “Certification” as an expert n Court should make clear detailed rulings as to who is the QEW, why they are qualified and what their opinion is, and that court considered it as part of decision

26
Defense attys and child advocates n Do discovery to learn about agency’s QEW – what if it looks like they do not have one? n Meet with/ give input to agency QEW n Use your own expert n Attack qualifications – is this the “real expert” n Attack knowledge base – was it just a paper review of case? n Look for prior relationship –allege bias